Uconn

Connecticut interim head coach T.J. Weist checks a play during the second half of his team's 13-10 loss to South Florida in an NCAA college football game in East Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

STORRS — Heading into the team's second American Athletic Conference game this week against Cincinnati, UConn interim head coach T.J. Weist is returning to familiar territory. Weist put in three years of service as the Bearcats' wide receivers coach from 2010-12.

During those three years, Weist helped the Bearcats to a pair of Big East titles (shared in 2011 with Louisville and West Virginia; shared with Louisville, Rutgers and Syracuse in 2012).

Cincinnati (4-2 overall and 1-1 in the AAC) won the Liberty Bowl in 2011 by beating Vanderbilt, 31-24, and won the Belk Bowl in 2012 with a 48-34 win over Duke, both taking place during Weist's tenure.

"Me and my wife and my family loved the city. It's a first class institution with great facilities," said Weist. "It was a really good experience because I was with quality staff."

Weist had a hand in recruiting most of the current Cincinnati players and knows much of the Bearcats' coaching staff considering he only joined the UConn staff before the 2013 season.

Though pleasantries may be exchanged before Saturday's matchup, Weist is focused and believes Cincinnati will be as well.

"When it's time to snap that helmet on, set your jaw, and go to war, it's time. They're the opponents, the enemies."

Not only does Weist have a history with the Bearcats, but also defensive coordinator Hank Hughes who coached the defensive line for Cincinnati in 1993 under head coach Tim Murphy.

Running game: Lyle McCombs had a career-high 164 rushing yards against South Florida on Saturday, carrying the ball 20 times and scoring UConn's only touchdown, a 52-yard scamper that at the time put the Huskies ahead, 10-7.

His previous high was as a freshman with a 152-yard effort against Syracuse in 2011. He is currently third all-time in rushing attempts for a UConn player, trailing only Donald Brown and Jordan Todman.

After Saturday's effort, McCombs now has 10 100-yard rushing games in his career with the Huskies.

"I should call more runs, that's what it comes down to," said Weist Tuesday. "I was pleased with the run game (against South Florida), I should've stuck with it. I need to get the ball more to Lyle."

History with Cincinnati: Saturday will be the 10th meeting between these two schools, but their first as AAC members. Seven of their previous eight meetings were Big East matchups.

Cincinnati has dominated the series, winning seven out of nine games against the Huskies, including a perfect 5-0 record at Nippert Stadium.

The Bearcats won last year's game 34-17, which was the game that knocked UConn out of bowl eligibility. The Huskies also lost in 2011 when Johnny McEntee was taking the snaps in a 35-27 losing effort.

The last time UConn defeated Cincinnati was on Nov. 27, 2010, a 38-17 final at Rentschler Field, which was the year the Huskies played Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Smallwood a man among boys: Junior linebacker and team captain Yawin Smallwood has earned his title so far this season, leading the Huskies in tackles in four of their first five games. He is currently ranked third in the BCS in tackles per game at 12.8 and leads the AAC.

Prior to the season, Smallwood was named to the Watch List for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award, both of which are given to the top defensive player in the country. He was also named to the list for the Butkus Award for the nation's best linebacker.

Entering this season, Smallwood had played in all 24 UConn games over the past two seasons, racking up 214 career tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 17.5 tackles for a loss. He has 64 tackles in the first five games of 2013.

Honoring Cincinnati's Ben Flick: The Huskies will have a No. 77 helmet sticker for Saturday's game to honor Cincinnati's offensive lineman Ben Flick, who tragically lost his life in a car accident on Sept. 21.

"I think it's an appropriate gesture for us, seeing that other teams did things for us, for this program when Jasper Howard died," said Weist. "I think it's the right thing to do."

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